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Episode: Grizzly Woods

Grizzly Woods

Published Sept. 17, 2013

Powerful Vision

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Like dogs and cats, bears have great night vision. There is a reflective membrane on the back of their eye which reflects light and causes light sensitive cells to react a second time to the light and therefore greatly enhances their vision at night.

Always Listening

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Bears, like dogs, have superior hearing that is very sensitive, especially to high-pitched sounds. Their ears are almost periscopic, able to rotate and focus on different sounds. They have ultrasonic range.

A Vicious Attack

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REENACTMENT: Sam Boas supports Sam Gottsegan after he has been attacked by the bear.

Wilderness Preparation

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Fresh out of high school and eager for adventure, a group of American teenagers are out in the Alaskan Wilderness on the trip of a lifetime. They have just spent a month completing a leadership course which prepares them to survive in the wilderness alone. This is prime grizzly bear country and they must be vigilant even pee breaks are to be done in groups. As they walk, they must make noise to prevent surprising a bear. They are each given bear spray, which they store in their packs.

Big Bear Right Ahead

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At about 5pm theyre ready to leave. Two groups of seven teens aged between 16 and 18 depart, choosing different routes to reach their rendezvous point. One of the boys passes by some rocks and catches sight of something on the hill above them. It looks like a hay bale, but as he looks closer, he sees it is shaking. Berg freezes in fear for a second before turning - BEAR! He yells, sprinting away.

Attacked From Behind

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Theres no time for the bear spray in an instant Joshua Berg, 17, feels an impact from behind as the bear knocks him into the creek face down.

A Scary Moment

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Sam Gottsegan, 17, is second from the back of the line. He is helping his friend Victor cross over some rocks when he hears shouts from the front. What are they shouting? He thinks. The group are suddenly on him, pushing him out of the way, as the shouts became clearer: BEAR! RUN! Gottsegan runs up the hill but falls face first into the creek bed. He scrambles up and hides in a bush. He then goes to help his friend and the bear turns on him instead.

Noah's Attack

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Its panic ridden chaos. The boys are scattering up the slope. Sam Boas, 17, crouches hiding in a bush nearby. He tried to make eye contact with the boys on the other side of the hill. Wheres the bear? he mouths. Noah runs up the hill only to find the bear running down to meet him. It knocks him down to the floor.

Non-Stop Assault

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Victor is on the slope hearing the pandemonium below. Phew he thinks. I managed to escape. And then the bear is on him, biting into his leg. He kicks out at the bear, catching it on the nose. The bear stands on its hind legs, looks around, and leaves.

Terror in the Woods

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REENACTMENT: Joshua Berg leans on Noah Allaire for support after the bear attack.

Alaskan Survivor

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Sam Boas obtained an injury in the Alaskan bear attack.

Something's Lurking

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REENACTMENT: The bear's shadow haunts the tent in Camp Grizzly before the attack.

Tragedy Waits

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Maria Flemming was on a short family vacation in Yellowstone, with her boyfriend, Ronald Singer, her sister and father.

The Great Outdoors

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Its the height of summer in Yellowstone National Park and Soda Butte Campground is bursting at the seams. Families and friends are enjoying the 10 acres of campsite, nestled in amongst the wilderness of the Park.

Bear Briefing

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Following a gradual increase in bear attacks, rangers ensure campers are well briefed on their way into the park. They must not leave food out, should stick together in groups and always make noise when out hiking to prevent scaring a bear.

Never Knowing

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Deb Freele, a retiree and avid Fly Angler, was visiting Yellowstone with her husband Bill. Theyve been to the park a few times and always make sure theyre careful to follow the Park rules. Shes not worried about an attack shes been around bears before and would be able to smell one before it came too close.

Surprise Attack

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Ronald Singer was rudely awakened by a blow to the head. Its pitch black and he cant see a thing. He sits up and instinctively starts punching and kicking with all his might.

Devastated Campsite

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Kevin Kammer is sleeping soundly in a quiet part of the campsite, unaware of the chaos around him. Suddenly, he receives a huge blow to his head. The bear has him in its jaws and it drags him 30 feet from the tent.

PS BEAR SPRAY IS A JOKE Please its far more dangerous it just pisses the bear off more and if you have to be close enough to spray a bear your life might have just ended. Is it better than nothing? NO because it gives you a false sense of security. Ask people who live in the Alaska Wilderness about bear protection, it starts with choice of weapon, it ends with caliber size. When its kill or be killed you want more than a aerosol can on your side especially against a bear.

It’s idiotic and deadly to be in bear country without
at BARE BEAR minimum a 45 handgun. Please note I said bare minimum, IMHO I feel
upset and angry that these children were put in a highly dangerous situation, I
understand the experience and independence is critical, but staying ALIVE and
SAFE is way more valuable. Where were the adults whose job it was to shadow
these kids just for this very reason? If you are sending children out into the
WILDERNESS with no protection, there should be experienced adults making sure
these children don't get harmed or worse killed! FOR SHAME!! I lived in bear
country, I learned the hard and painful lesson of NOT paying attention to my
surrounding and NOT having an appropriate weapon, I am thankful I was able to
learn that lesson while alive. I now carry several weapons with me at ALL times.

Grizzly Woods Related Content

Featured Gallery

A group of seven teenage boys are spending their summer vacation on a wilderness survival course. After 25 days of training with an instructor, the boys are on their own. Venturing out into the wilderness the group startle a bear and it attacks, leaving two of the group critically injured.